Trolley-catcher.



No. 756,859. PATENTED APR. 12, 1904. M. H. JOHNSON.

TROLLEY GATUHER. APPLIIOATION FILED JULY 15', 1903.

30 MODEL.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR A TTORNEY Patented April 12, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

MONTGOMERY H. JOHNSON, OF UTIOA, NEW YORK.

TROLLEY-CATGHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 756,859, dated April 12, 1904.

Application filed July 15, 1903. $eria1N0. 165,568- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MONTGOMERY H. JOHN- SON, of Utica, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trolley-Catchers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a trolley-catcher which is adapted to keep the slack out of the trolley-line and promptly catch the trolley when it leaves the trolley-wire and withal is simple in construction and reliable in operation.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a vertical section of my improved trolley-catcher. Fig. 2 shows a partial section taken on line a Z), and Fig. 3 is also a section on line 0 CZ.

Referring to the reference letters and figures in a more particular description, 1 indicates a casing which in the main is circular in form and adapted to be attached to the car. The casing receives the trolley-reel 2, which has a shaft 3, one end of which is mounted in a circular or rounded bearing 4E in the removable head 5 of the case. The opposite end of the shaft 3 is received in a bearing 6 in the body of the casing, which bearing is opened up vertically, so as to allow the shaft to move up and down to a limited extent, and in connection with the movement of the shaft the reel is adapted to move. On the periphery the reel is provided with teeth 7 and within the casing there is secured a fixed tooth 8, adapted to engage therewith. The trolleyline X enters the casing through a suitable opening and is attached at one end to the reel and is adapted to be wound on the reel. Within the hollow portion of the reel there is provided a take-up spring 9, one end of which is attached to the reel and the other attached to an arm 10, extending inwardly from the head of the case. The proper tension to the spring 10 may be secured either by winding a surplus of cord onto the reel when withdrawn from the case and then withdrawing the surplus cord after the parts are assembled or by loosening the fastenings which secure the head 5 and rotating it by means of the knob 53.

The reel 2- may be variously constructed that is to say, with a heavy rim and a light center, (substantially as shown in the drawings,) or with a light rim and a heavy center, depending upon circumstances under which it is to be used.

The operation of the device is substantially as follows: Under ordinary usage the reel will take up any slack in the line by a rotation by the spring 9. In such ordinary operation the end of the shaft 3 lies and runs in the bottom of the bearing 6. ,In case the trolley leaves the trolley-wire a sudden pull or jerk on the trolley-line causes the reel to move up bodily, particularly at one edge, so that the ratchetteeth 7 engage with the tooth 8, which of course at once stops the reel from unwinding. Under a slow or gentle draw the trolley-line can be drawn olf from the reel without pulling up the reel, so as to engage the ratchet-teeth.

By relieving the strain on the trolley-line after the reel has been drawn up and caught, as described, it will drop back automatically into its ordinary working position.

Modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination in a trolley-catching de vice of a line-reel, vertically movable by a sudden draw on the line, a catch with which the reel comes into engagement when moved vertically, and a spring for turning the reel in winding up slack of the line, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination in atrolley-catching device of a casing, a vertically-movable line-reel mounted in the casing, adapted to be moved vertically by a sudden draw on the line, and a catch with which the reel comes into engagement when moving vertically, and a spring for turning the reel in winding up the slack of the line, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in atrolley-catching deviceof a rotating and vertically-movable linereel, having catch teeth or projections. a fixed tooth or part for securing the reel when moved vertically into engagement therewith, and a spring for rotating the reel to take up the slack of the line, substantially as set forth.

4. In a trolley-catching device, the combination of a vertically-movable reel to which one end of the trolley-line is attached, a catch or lock for securing the reel against rotation when moved vertically from its normal working position, and means for rotating the reel when in its normal working position, substantially as set forth.

5. In a trolley-catching device, the combination of an inclosed casing, having a suitable bearing therein, which is enlarged to permit a vertical movement, line-reel mounted in the casing in said bearing, catch for securing the reel against rotation into engagement with which the line-reel will come when moved vertically, and a spring for rotating the reel when out of engagement with the catch for taking up the slack of the trolley-line,s,ubstantially as set forth.

6. In a trolley-catching device, the combination of a rotary reel, having, also, a vertical movement of a catch for preventing the rotation of the reel in one direction when it is moved vertically into engagement therewith, and a spring for rotating the reel in the opposite direction, when not in engagement with said catch, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have aflixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 13th day of July, 1903.

MONTGOMERY H.- JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

S. E. J ONES, E. S. HESSE. 

